THANKS FOR DROPPING BY TO

Meet the Red Card Team

Tony Kelly

Managing Director and Founder

I plied my trade in the Swedish 2nd Division as well as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions of the English Football League in a 9 year career. I spent 3 years at Stoke City under legendary managers such as Alan Ball and Lou Macari and had numerous highs and lows during that period, namely a Wembley winners medal and my famous ‘YouTube’ goal at Anfield in a 2-2 draw in the 1991 League Cup!

If I knew then what I know now, with regards to how professional therapy can be a ‘life saver’, I would not be writing this article. ‘Problem gambling’ can be helped with proper treatment, which may include Psychological therapy. There is no magical cure as it’s an illness and should be treated as such.

We will endeavour to find out what triggers people’s compulsive behaviour and urge for compulsive gambling and I am sure with, your full commitment and continued therapy, together we can accomplish our aim.

Paul Taylor

COMPANY Director

Paul joined Red Card because he is worried about the rise of gambling and its long term negative impact. Within Red Card Paul is responsible for overseeing governance processes.

Outside Red Card, Paul is a Management Consultant with cover 30 years experience of delivering change and supporting organisations across the Financial Services, Oil/Gas, Government and Social Enterprise industries.

As well as being a director of Red Card, Paul is also a director of a firm production CIC called SkipzProductions.

In addition, Paul is a judge on the Management Book of the Year awards, an Associate Lecturer for the Open University Maths Technology school and ian external specialist for the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment where he sets syllabuses and writes course materials. He obtained MBA from Open University Business School in and studying (albeit very slowly) for a Doctorate at Middlesex Business School.

Finally Paul authors and speaks on a wide range of subjects covering technology (covering AI and Big Data), offshoring, working for yourself, entrepreneurship and change management.

Sandra Mtandabari

Counselling Psychologist

Sandra Mtandabari is a Chartered and Registered Counselling Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health, working in the NHS, voluntary sector and in private practice.

Her approach to therapeutic practice is integrative, informed by cognitive behavioural, schema and existential models, also incorporating systemic principles & motivational interviewing techniques. Working with adults and adolescents, Sandra offers individual and group therapy, for most psychological presentations including addictions.

As an integrative practitioner, Sandra endeavours to work with a holistic approach, thus ensures all the existential dimensions (psychological, physical, social & spiritual) are addressed at the assessment and treatment of clients.

Alptekin Aydin, MSc-MBPS-FDAP

Addiction Specialist Psychologist

As a Psychologist specialised in addiction, Alptekin’s aim is provide brief interventions, harm-reduction and therapeutic treatment for gambling addiction, drug and substance misuser by working at the projects or clinics.

Aside from academic & clinical experience he is a research software engineer and has developed a mobile based iPhone application called The Alcohol Intoxication Monitor (AIM) for my MSc thesis. The AIM App uses smartphone technology with an integrated application for ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in a natural environment.

The app is designed to incorporate the recording of alcohol consumption, BAC Level (blood alcohol concentration), coordinated Geographic Information System (GIS) to place drinking in location, time and recurrence and includes measures of subjective intoxication and mood state with a short version Profile of Mood States (POMS).

Qualifications and Professional Memberships include MSc Courses in Addiction Studies -Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) King’s College London.

Andrea Hollis

Person centred / cbt / psychodynamic trained counselling mbacp

I have been involved in the addiction field for the last 11 years at least. After a wealth of experience of working with private clients/schools and companies covering all issues from individual therapies to couple counselling and child, to addiction issues among high profile sports clientele also.

I currently also work still with GamCare specialising with problematic gamblers and the affected other/families/sports industry. I still have a private practice also.I do work using various methods and find this very useful as all are very often needed and used, in the process. I am a member of the BCAP and I have been since 2005 at least, and a member of the various counselling local directories. In process to sort accreditation soon of the BACP too.

I have joined red card foundation as this is where my passion lies helping others and my goals to help educate the public and to become aware also of the dangers of gambling if it is not managed, afforded and controlled. I look forward to an ongoing successful future with Red Card.AC

Bradley Riddell

BA – Ad.Dip in Integrative Counselling - MBACP

I have been actively involved in the world of addiction since 2001, when I began working for the National charity Addaction, counselling substance mis-users with drug and alcohol issues. I have worked with families of addicts for the charity CRI-Patched, and for the charity Breakeven which specialises in the area of gambling addiction offering free counselling to problem gamblers and their ‘significant others’ ie: friends and family.

I recently began my own private practice in 2014 based in Maidstone & Brighton specialising in addiction therapy whilst continuing my work with problem gambling with Breakeven who have offices throughout the South East of England.My interests in addiction stem from my own experiences in my earlier years when I began to use alcohol & recreational drugs heavily and obsessively. Interestingly for an “Addictions Therapist” I am not a particular fan of the term “addict”.

Whilst I recognise that when used appropriately it can have tremendously healing potential I’m very aware that when used derogatively it can cause stigma and shame, adding to the addictive behaviour and thinking, and not helping it. For this reason therapeutic work needs to be undertaken sensitively, compassionately and with empathic understanding for the pain the person in the grip of the addictive compulsions is going through. I work in an integrated way and with a keen interest in Neuro-scientific research into brain chemistry. In my experience these insights can help clients understand what was previously inexplicable and greatly aid therapeutic progress and integration of self.

I am a member of the BACP and an active member of the Counselling-Directory on whose site I have had several articles on addiction published.

I am currently in the process of becoming an accredited member of the BACP.

Sarah-Jayne Holmes

PWP, BA (Hons), PG Cert

Working within the criminal justice system for the NHS, I am currently part of an integrated mental health team, practising LICBT. I am passionate and enthusiastic in my approach to my role, building therapeutic relationships with clients and maintaining transparency, to support them in making positive changes.

Specialising in anxiety disorders and depression, I have worked with many clients with dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health difficulties). Familial experience of gambling addiction, has driven my passion to help build awareness for others of the risk of problem gambling and I am honoured, as a RedCard team member, to be able to use my experiences and skills to promote responsible gambling.

Kaesha Campbell

Specialist DRIVE Domestic Violence Case Manager

A personable and proactive individual who is highly experienced in complex case management, risk assessments, needs analysis and group facilitation. Specialised in domestic violence interventions, offender management, enforcement, conflict resolution and report writing. Extremely driven and customer focused. 11 years’ experience as a Probation Service Officer, providing 1:1 complex case management and supervision of service users in the community, many of whom have complex needs such as substance abuse, homelessness, mental health, financial difficulties and relationship issues.

7 years’ experience as a Facilitator, providing interactive lessons to school children aged 9-16 yrs, to provide young people with the skills to identify and explore the dangers of criminal and anti-social behaviour in addition to providing sessions on various personal development topics.

Facilitator of the (Home Office accredited) ‘Building Better Relationships programme. It is a 30 session programme that works with medium to high risk perpetrators of domestic violence which have been referred via CAFCASS, Social Services or Probation.

Certified in Non-Violent Resistance and work with parents who have violence committed against them by their children.